Developed by Joan Locklin

Introduction

My area of teaching in the New Haven Adult Education Program is General Educational Development (GED). To receive a high school diploma my students must pass a six-hour test given by the State on two Saturdays each month except in August. This involves reading and applying concepts in three areas: Social Studies, Science, and Literature & Arts; and in two skill areas: Writing and Mathematics. On the Writing Test they must answer questions on how to correct grammar mistakes, and compose a 200-word essay on an unknown topic. The Mathematics Test requires skill in answering word problems that use fractions, decimals, percents, measurements; in interpreting graphs and tables; and in solving geometry and algebra problems.

One challenge in this type of teaching is time. I am lucky if I have 3 months with a student to review the basics. This is where technology can help. If some of the review can be done online when the student is available, the in-class-time can concentrate on new areas that were never learned or understood.

The second challenge is continuous enrollment. A student can enter/leave anytime during the year. I’m hoping technology can help a new student to catch up or at least gain background information so he/she can join in to what the rest are doing for part of the time. It’s all right to do individual study for part of the class, but group interaction is very important to learning.

Another challenge is the difficulty of teaching science without a lab. Many students have very little knowledge or background in biology, chemistry, and physics. This is why my project for EDU577 is to develop an online science review that reinforces our curriculum. I plan to use it with my classes in September. I know it will be a work-in-progress in the fall. If you have any suggestions or interesting sites, please e-mail Joan at dlocklin@connix.com

Week 1

Yes, your goal is to pass the GED and receive your diploma, but if you complete this program, you will have learned so much more. You will know how to use a computer to go online: the Internet with its World Wide Web will be part of your skills. You will move from one subject to another, leave, and return to an earlier subject. You will learn how to write on the computer, spell check, improve your grammar, print your compositions, chat with scientists, and much, much more. If you are ready to start, go on now.

GED SCIENCE REVIEW

Your GED Science Test will have 66 multiple choice questions. You will have 95 minutes to answer all of these questions. In order to receive 45 points [passing score] on the Science Test, you will need to prepare in the following areas:

SCIENTIFIC METHOD (the different steps used by scientist to validate their findings). Visit the following site: Cellular Biology:

http://tqd.advanced.org/12413/structures.html [Put your arrow on blue underlined words, when it turns into a hand, click]

Read and take notes [use WordPAD*] on the Scientific Method. Be prepared to apply these steps to a new hypothesis. [Text pg. 86-91]

*[All students will learn how to take notes while viewing the monitor, use Save As and Print commands.]

ANIMAL AND PLANT BIOLOGY (the study of life) has questions on the cell (the basic unit of all life), the structure of plant and animal cells, the functions of organelles in cells, and the processes of Mitosis and Meiosis.

Select first or second or third link. Based on this information, answer the questions on your Biology worksheet. Draw pictures and label the parts of an animal and plant cells. [Text pg. 92-104]

FIRST LINK:

Cellular Biology: This is a clear explanation of Cell Structure, organelles and their functions. http://tqd.advanced.org/12413/structures.html

OR SECOND LINK:

Excellent material on cell structure with clear images.

http://www.life.uiuc.edu/bio100/lessons/cells_and_organelles.html

OR THIRD LINK: This has information on Mitosis and Meiosis.

http://www.biology.arizonia.edu/cell_bio/cell_bio.html

Homework: Write a paper on one Phylum of Invertebrate animals listed below. Describe the characteristics of that phylum. Name 2 classes and give examples.

Annelida (20) Nematoda (1)

Arthropoda (2) Nemertea (2)

Chordata (235) Platyhelminthes (10)

Cnidaria (34) Porifera (41)

Echinodermata (1) Sipuncula (1)

Mollusca (1)

Look for help on this assignment with the following link: a directory by Lycos with at least 24 links to all aspect of biology: books, news groups, and much, much more. http://dir.lycos.com/Science/Biology/

Week 2

Review Animal & Plant Biology: Explain Ecosystems, Evolution, and HIV/AIDS.

Use this helpful site, the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, to find articles on Ecosystems, Evolution, and HIV/AIDS click on subject index, use pull down menu to select subject, press GO. MBL includes the beautiful Marine Species Index, an internal search engine, gorgeous photographs and essays about marine animals. http://www.mbl.edu/html/WELCOME/welcome.html

HUMAN BIOLOGY

This area of biology includes questions on the systems of the body, nutrition, and heredity. [Text pg. 122-146]

To study the systems of the human body go to: Guided Tour: Visible Human

http://madsci.wustl.edu/~lynn/VH/

Nutrition touches all our lives. Select a topic on this site, take notes, and present your information to our class on Wednesday. http://www.drkoop.com/nutrition/healthyliving/

[How do you know what you read on the Internet is reliable? Check the end of this online review’s Appendix for "Web Evaluation for Secondary Grades" form. Print this form and fill it out. Turn it in. You will see the original form at http://www.siec.k12.in.us/~west/online/eval.htmfile:///A|/rubric3.htm ]

BREAK TIME

Just for Fun: Amazing Animal Facts - Facts and trivia about animals.

http://zebu.cvm.msu.edu/~dawsonbr/welcome.htm

Solve a puzzle: Find the name of the phylum where:

its members are neither animals (which develop from a blastula), plants (which develop from an embryo), fungi (which lack undulipodia and develop from spores), nor prokaryotes.

(http://dir.lycos.com/Science/Biology/Taxonomy/Taxonomy_Map/

Protoctistae/)

For additional information select: http://www.ucalgary.ca/UofC/eduweb/virtualembryo/advanced_dev_biol.html This shows developing embryos in the process of fertilization in sea urchins. It has advanced material but very good diagrams.

OR

Visit Fossil Record of Bacteria for the amazing history of bacteria. http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/bacteria/bacteriafr.html

Homework:

After reading your text on heredity [Text pg. 147-151] go to this link: The Natural History of Genes. This explains how genes work and takes science from the laboratory to the classroom. There are inquiry activities and hands-on experiments that encourage investigation and application of science concepts and ways to confront misconceptions about DNA science. The site offers plans for making inexpensive lab equipment and interactive pages where you can question scientists*. http://raven.umnh.utah.edu/

[*Explain E-Mail and Chat Rooms]

Week 3

Visit MIT’s site: http://www-erl.mit.edu/NESN/homepage.html

See color-coded continent movements at

http://www2.nature.nps.gov/grd/usgsnps/pltec/scplseqai.html

What is the difference between Hurricanes and Tornadoes? Write your answer after visiting these two sites: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/index.html

(hurricanes). Find information on Tornadoes here: http://redrock.ncsa.uiuc.edu/PATHFINDER/aisrp93/storm_research/tornado.html

See if you can find the highest wind speed on New England’s Mt. Washington site http://www.mountwashington.org/

The Weather Page [Text pg. 171-175]

U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has a Weather Page: NOAA Home Page has general information. http://www.esdim.noaa.gov/weather_page.html Learn to read weather and topographical maps. Bring to class Weather Maps from the newspaper.

Week 4

CHEMISTRY [Text pg. 190-193]

The structure of the atom (the smallest form of matter) with its protons, neutrons, and electrons; the Periodical Table with all the elements; and their chemical bonding are part of the GED Science Test. Read and take notes and make drawings at the following links:

See a Periodical Table of Elements at Los Alamos National Laboratory http://pearl1.lanl.gov/periodic/ and study the properties of 15 elements (see your chemistry work sheet). Take notes. Write a short paragraph about the 5 elements you have selected. Be prepared for a quiz on the 15 element symbols.

Print a copy of Periodical Table for your own use at:

http://www.webelements.com/

In the Internet Plasma Physics Education Experience you will find answers to your questions on matter, atoms, molecules, and an interactive Periodical Table of Elements. http://ippex.pppl.gov/ippex/ Click on Welcome and go to Matter.

Read [Text pg. 195-197] Chemical bonding is clearly explain with diagrams at: http://esg-www.mit.edu:8001/esgbio/chem/review.html#Chembonds

Take notes on ionic and covalent bonds.

BREAK TIME

Visit the Comic Book Periodical Table of Elements site to see where elements were used in comic books. Read a story. Enjoy.

http://www.uky.edu/~holler/periodic/periodic.html

Week 5

PHYSICS: The Science of Energy [Text pg. 221-233]

Newton’s 3 Laws of Motion, levers and simple machines, the Laws of Conservation of Energy and Matter, buoyancy, the theories of waves, sound, and light will be applied to new circumstances on the Science Test. Study the special vocabulary used in physics. [Text pg. 200-205]

Look at Physics for Beginners, Page 01: http://home.earthlink.net/~psistorm/physics01a.html#Newton

Particle Physics Education Sites: "Of what is the world made? What holds it together?" Follow these steps to learn the answers to these two questions:.

click to start the adventure in English, on The Particle Adventure page click Standard Model Path, then follow the arrows. http://pdg.lbl.gov/cpep/othersites.html#general

I saved the best for last. Be sure to visit this site: the Internet Plasma Physics Education Experience. http://ippex.pppl.gov/ippex/ They explain: fusion,matter, energy, electricity and magnetism. Click on yellow welcome and go to Interactive Physics Modules. Answer the questions on your Physics worksheet about 4 States of Matter, Atoms and Molecules, Why things float, Static and Current Electricity, Fusion, and Energy.

For homework: Write a composition of about 200 words on one important person who impresses you. Use Who, What, Where, When, and Why format. Select from:

4000 Years of Women in Science

http://www.astr.ua.edu/4000WS/4000WS.html

OR

African-Americans in the Sciences

http://www.lib.lsu.edu/lib/chem/display/faces.html

OR

Links to Women and Minorities in Science

http://pdg.lbl.gov/cpep/othersites.html#womenandminorities

Final Week

Your assessment is in the form of a practice GED Science Test. If you score 50+ points, you’re ready to sign up for the real test. If you get 40 to 45 points, better do some more review.

Appendix: Go to Edit. Highlight form. Go to File. Select Print View. Print.

URL

The visitor engages with site. 1 2 3 4 5

This site uses appropriate page format.

Pages are not too long. 1 2 3 4 5

Can easily find information. 1 2 3 4 5

This site is aesthetically pleasing.

Good use of graphics and color. 1 2 3 4 5

This site is aesthetically courteous.

Text and background colors do not clash. 1 2 3 4 5

CONTENT

Has proper title. 1 2 3 4 5

Additional resources links are included. 1 2 3 4 5

Information is useful. 1 2 3 4 5

Rich content and will likely be revisited. 1 2 3 4 5

How this website compares in content to similar

All links work. 1 2 3 4 5

Thumbnail graphics used. Graphics download quickly. 1 2 3 4 5

Alternative text page is offered when heavy

Can see meaningful information within 30 seconds. 1 2 3 4 5

CREDIBILITY

Contact person is stated with e-mail address. 1 2 3 4 5

Announces when page was last updated.

States the name of the host school or institution. 1 2 3 4 5

Possible Total Points = 100 TOTAL:

Your name: Date: